Sheet cutting machine



March 23, 1954 w. w. MAHER SHEET CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1949 March 23, 1954 w. w. MAHER SHEET CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 15, 1949 INVENTOR.

i /4A4. zzgm TM QR W. W. MAHER SHEET CUTTING MACHINE March 23, 1954 Filed March 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 SHEET CUTTING MACHINE William W. Maher, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 15, 1949, Serial No. 81,466 8 Claims. (01. 164-61) This invention relates to sheet cuttingror slitting machines and has particular reference to devices for attracting, receiving and holding out strips or blanks in a predetermined position and for releasing them in timed or spaced order for further advancement.

In the manufacture of cans or containers, me-

tallic sheets such as tin plate, are cut into blanks or strips for forming into can bodies or other can parts. These blanks are cut by a machine having rotary cutters which rotate rapidly and which therefore discharge the cut blanks at a high rate of speed. In some machines the cut blanks are discharged onto a transfer conveyor for further feeding to an auxiliary cutter. In such machines the rapidly traveling blanks as they leave the cutters, are deposited on the transfer conveyor simultaneously and with considerable force. This causes theblanks to overlap,

or skid across the conveyor or causes some of the blanks to fall on top of the feed dogs @n the conveyor with the result that often some of the blanks become badly scratched or dented or sometimes severely damaged.

I The instant invention contemplates overcoming these difiiculties by providing a device which attracts and receives the cut blanks from the scratching or otherwise damaging the strips or blanks.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of electro-magnetic devices for attracting cut and moving metallic strips or blanks cut from a larger sheet and for holding them in a separated and predetermined position in readiness for individual release and in sequence with the timed operations of other parts of the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. n Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sheet cutting or slitting machine embodying the p resent' invention with parts broken away, the view also showing a plurality of sheets and blanks or strips passing through the machine;

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the electric devices used in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the vertical line 5-5 in Fig. 3 with parts broken away, the view showing electromagnetic holding devices used in the machine for attracting and holding the blanks or strips in suspended position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View drawn to the same scale as Fig. 5 and illustrating one of the electromagnetic holding devices used in the machine, the view being taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line 6--6 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of an electro-magnetic holding device as viewed substantially along the line 1---'! in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing how the various rotating parts of the machine are driven.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate the principal parts of a tandem slitting machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent 2,355,079, issued August 8, 1944, to L. L. Jones on Sheet Slitting Machine. In such a machine metal sheets A having rectangular configuration (Fig. 1) are conveyed longitudinally of the machine and are trimmed and cut into two smaller size sheets or strips B. These sheets B are then conveyed transversely of the machine at right angles to their first path of travel, and are again trimmed and cut into can body blanks C. This completes the slitting operations and accordingly the blanks are conveyed to a suitable place of deposit.

The sheets A enter the machine from any suitable source of supply of such sheets and advance along an inclined runway which includes a plurality of support rails ll (Figs. 1 and 3). These rails are secured to a table l2. The table is formed as an integral part of a machine base #3. The outer ends of the rails H extend beyond the table l2 and are braced by connecting brackets I4 and by a pair of angle irons 15 which extend from the brackets to the base l3. I

The sheets A are propelled along the runway by an endless chain conveyor it (see also Fig. 8) having feed dogs ll secured thereto at spaced intervals. The chain operates over a plurality of idler sprockets l8 and over a driving sprocket 2 l. The idler sprockets I8 are mounted on cross shafts 22 journaled in bearings formed in the machine base I3 and in a bracket 23 secured to the support rails l I.

The driving sprocket 2! is mounted on a drive shaft 24 which is journaled in a bearing 25 provided in the housing of a conventional gear reduction unit 25 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8). The shaft 24 i driven through the reduction unit 26 from a main drive shaft 21 which is iournaled in a hearing 28 provided in this unit 25. The main'drive' shaft 2'! is connected at its outer end to and driven by an electric motor 3i. unit 25 and the electric motor 3! are located and suitably mounted within the frame or housing of the machine base 13.

Asthe conveyor It is driven by the drive sprocket 2!, the dogs H onthe chain engage .behind the sheets A placed on the runwayand propel them forwardly, in the direction of the .arrow shown in Fig. 1, along the support rails 1 I l.

The sheets are guidedalong a straight line path of travel by a pair of spaced and parallel .guide rails 32 which are formed on the outer support rails ll (Figs. 1 and 3).

The conveyor l6 propels the sheets A toward. ,a plurality of cooperating upper and lower trim- :--ming and slitting rotary cutters 33, 34 which are located adjacent the inner edge of the table [2 so that the sheets to be cut will pass between them. These cutters-are mounted on a pair of spaced, parallel and horizontal shafts 35, 35 (see also Fig. 8) which are journaled in bearings 37 formed in the machine base 13. The shafts 35, 36 extend beyond the bearings on one side of the machine base and carry meshing gears 38, 39-

which rotate the cutters 33,- 34 simultaneously and in unison.

The lower cutter shaft 36 is rotated by a sprocket 42 which is mounted on this shaft adjacent the gear 39. The sprocket 42 is driven by:

.an endless driving chain 43 which operates over it and over a drive sprocket 44 mounted on the drive shaft 24 (Figs. 1, 4 and 8) When a moving sheet A propelled by the conveyor i6 passes between the rotating upper and lower trimming and slitting cutters 33, 34, its side edges are trimmed and the substantially rectangular sheet A is slit in the middle to produce two narrower sheets or strips B.

The cut or severed sheets B a they come from thecutters 33, Marc directed between suitable chine base 53 and to a table 48 of an auxiliary machine base 5i.

The sheets B as the are fed outwardly from the cutters 33, 3t advance into and are attracted by electro-magnetic holding or attracting devices 52. These holding devices maintain the sheets or strips B suspended at a predetermined location over the conveyor unit 47.

An electro-nagnetic holding device 52 is provided for each of the sheets B. These holding devices are located in spaced relation above the auxiliary conveyor unit 47 and are secured at The reduction 4 one end to a vertical wall 53 of the guide M. The guide is mounted on lug extensions of the bearings 3'! (see Figs. 1 and 3). The other end of the holding device 52 are secured to a conveyor guide rail 54 (Fig. 6) mounted on the machine base 5|. The electro-magnetic holding devices preferably are tilted at a slight angle relative to the horizontalas best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the sheets or strips B upon being cut from a single sheet A will be shifted to separate their adjacent edges while the sheets or strips are fed into and held in their suspended positions.

Each electro-magnetic holding device 52 includes a flat core member 55 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) which is secured along its opposite side edges to a. pair of spaced elongated bars 55. An electric coil 51 surrounds the core and when the coil is energized it sets up a magnetic field around the bars and this field attracts and holds a sheet or strip B as hereinbefore explained. The electric coil is protected by a, casing 58.

,The electro-magnetic devices are energized through a major part of the cycle of operations of the machine so that the sheets or strips -B upon being moved into their suspended positions over the conveyor unit t? may be held theremomentarily preparatory to their release at the proper time for deposit into desired spaced positions on the conveyor unit. For this purpose each of the electro-magnetic devices are energized and de-energized in proper sequence with the feeding of a sheet A. Thus, cam actuated switches ti, 62 are provided forconnecting a source of electric current with the electric coils 5? of these devices. This will be described fully hereinafter in connection with the .wiring diagram (Fig. 2).

The electric switches 15!, 52 are mountedeon the housing Wallof the machine base 13 and are actuated by continuously rotating cams. 63, 64 which are mounted on .a shaft .65 journaled in bearings 66, 6'! inth base frame 13 andin the reduction unit 25' (Fig. 4). ,The shaft 65 is rotated in proper time through the reduction unit 25 and makes one revolution for each of the sheets A fed between the cutters 33, 34 so that as the leading edges of the slit sheets B pass beneath the temporarily magnetized bars 56 they will be immediately attracted and supported by them while moving into their suspended positions. I v

In order to permit the free movement of the sheets or strips B relative to the bars 55 while they are attracted toward them, a plurality of non-magnetic free-wheeling rollers 68 are provided in each of the bars (Figs. 4, 5 and 7). The rollers 68 are located in spaced relation within a slot ll formed in each of the bars and are rotatably carried on shortshafts '32 secured in these bars. The periphery or'contacting surfaces of these rollers preferably are spaced outwardly from the face of the bars 56 so that the sheets during their travel over. the rollers are prevented from engaging the bars.

The slit sheets or strips B upon reaching their suspended positions (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) are held in readiness for release onto the auxiliary conveyor unit 4'1. This conveyor unit includes a plurality of runway rails i3 which are mounted on a horizontal runway M and on the table '58, The runway 14 extends transversely of the machine and is supported at its forward end by the machine base'5l. H

L'Ihe sheets or strips B are released onto the bearin s 93 formed in the machine base i.

'conveyor unit 41 in sequence with respect to a plurality of advancing feed dogs 15 which are spaced at intervals and secured to an endless chain conveyor 16 so that th 'sheets will be propelled forwardly along the runway rail 13 at right angles to their former path of travel. For

this purpose th chain conveyor is operated in proper time with other moving parts of the machine (Fig. 8)

Hence, as the leading feed dog 15 approaches a position near the edge of one of the sheets or strips B (at the right as viewed in Figs. 1, l and .5) the electric coil 51 of the holding devic 52 for this particular sheet B is de-energized momentarily through the opening of the switch 6| by the cam 63 and the sheet is thereby dropped into a desired position in front of the feed dog :15 on the conveyor rails for advancement along the conveyor. .feed dog 15 approaches the other suspended sheet Similarly, as the next advancing B (at the left as viewed in the above mentioned figures) the electric coil 51 of the holding device supporting this particular sheet is de-energized ,momentarily through the opening of the switch 62 by th cam 64 and the sheet is dropped gently into its desired position on the conveyor for advancement therealong. During the normal operation of the machine these cycles of sheet release are repeated for each set of two sheets B I fed. In this mannera sheet B is prevented from falling on top of a feed dog and is thus prevented from becoming jammed or scratched in the machine.

, The chain conveyor 16 operates over a plurality .which is mounted on this shaft and which is rotated by an endless driving chain 86, The chain 86 operates over and is driven by a sprocket 81 mounted on a horizontal shaft 88 journaled in a bearing bracket 9| bolted to the machin base l3. The shaft 88 carries a bevel gear 92 which meshes with and is driven by a bevel gear 93 mounted on an extension of the main drive shaft 24 (Fig. 8). the main drive shaft, the transverse chain con- My means of this connection with veyor 16 is actuated in timed relation with the longitudinal chain conveyor l6 hereinbefore described.

The conveyor 16 thus driven propels the sheet orstrips B toward and between a plurality of cooperating upper and lower trimming and slitting cutter wheels 94, 95 located at the forward end of the auxiliary conveyor for cutting the strips or sheets B transversely into the blanks C hereinbefore mentioned. These cutter wheels 94, 95 and their manner of operation are similar to the cutters 33, 34 previously described.

The cutter wheels 54, 95 are mounted on a pair of spaced, parallel andhorizontal shafts 96. 91 (Figs. 1. 3, 4 and 8) which are iournaled in The shafts 96. 91 e tendbevond the bearin s on one side of the machine base and c rrv meshing ears I01. I02 so that the cutter wheels will rotate together simultaneously. I

The lower cutter heel shaft 91 is was b a sprocket H13 which is mounted on this shaft adjacent the gear 102, The sprocket I03 is driven the machine.

6 by the endless driving chain 86 which operates over it and the sprockets 85, 81 hereinbefore mentioned (Figs. 1 and 8).

Ihe square or rectangularly cut sheets or strips B after being cut into blanks C by the cutter wheels 94, fall onto a continuously moving conveyor belt I04 which carries them to a suitable place of deposit (Figs. 1 and 4). The belt I04 operates over a pulley I05 mounted on a shaft I06 carried in bearings I01 formed in a stand I03 located adjacent the discharge end of A stop plate I09 secured to the stand adjacent the far side of the belt locates the blanks C on the belt as they pass from the cutter wheels 94, 95.

Reference should now be had to the wiring diagram in Fig. 2 which schematically shows the electric coils 51 of the electro-magnetic holding devices 52 connected to and receiving electric current from a suitable source such as a generator H2. These electric coils 51 are connected in series with their respective normally closed switches 6!, 62 so that either of the coils may be energized or deenergized independently of the other during the cycle of operations of the machine.

The generator I I2 is connected to two separate circuits by a lead Wire H3. The lead wire H3 is connected by wires H5, I I6 leading to the separate circuits and to one side of each of the coils 5?. The opposite sides of these coils are connected by wires H1, H8 to one side of each of their respective switches 6|, 62. The opposite sides of these switches are connected together by a wire 12!. A wire I22 connected to the wire l2l at one side of the switch 62 also is connected to the generator as the return wire thus completing the circuits.

During the operation of the machine, electric current from the generator flows along the lead wire H3, the wires H5, H6 to the electric coils 51, through these coils and thence along the wires H1, H8 to the switches BI, 62, through these switches and returning along the wires [21, 122 to the generator I I2. This energizes the electric coils 51 of the electro-magnetic holding devices 52 for effecting the successively timed engaging and holding of the slit sheets or strips B as previously described.

De-energizing of the coils 51' for the successively timed release of the sheets orstrips B is effected momentarily by opening the normally closed switches 6|, 62 connected to these coils in proper sequence. Hence, as the switches BI, 62 are actuated successively by the continuously rotating cams63, 64 the separate circuits are independently broken and the respective electric coils 57 in the separate circuits de-energized. The sheets or strips B thus are released from the holding devices 52 in predetermined timed relation to drop betweensuccessive feed dogs 15 on the conveyor chain '16, thereby avoiding hitting the feed dogs and injuring the'surface of the sheets or strips.

I It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof I claim: 1. In a machine for cutting sheets into strips if-7 scrcbec sethe gmbinstion;(if-mean fo seedin sheets 120:3; ts; ttinas ai om u i ea at said station for cuttingsheets into istrips, a aaconveyor operable adjacent said sheet cutting station for transferring cut strips from the staaticn, an; attracting device disposed adjacent said station above the pathof each moving strip, and ,extending'over, said conveyor, each of said attracting devices ,being :laterally in clined np- ,wardly relative to the direction of movement of the conveyor beneath it forattracting andsun ptanding a strip ;-in laterally inclined discharge ;;,po sition above'said conveyor, and control means connected withsaid-attracting ,deviceand operable in time with the feeding-pfsaidw sheetsfor adjacentstrips:upon engagement therewith to separate their adjacent edges and to hold said strips with theiredges separated when moving ,the strips into predetermined positions, andcontrol-means connected with said strip holding de- ,vices andoperable rin time with the feeding of .said stripsfor releasing them successively and in timed order fromsaid velectro magnetic holding devices thereby spacing the strips for further -,d 0s t th reo ;In a machine for cutting magnetizablesheets into: strips and blanks the combination -;.of means for, feeding individual sheets to a sheet cutting station, cutting means at saidstation for cu t sh et to tr ps a el c a ne i olding device located, adidiient- .said 1 Cutting sta- ;tion for receiving a cutstripas it is discharged by said cutting means and for holdingthestrip in suspended position, a conveyor having a feed dog moving under; said-holding dev-ice.- and a control switch connected with. saidstrip holding device and operable in time with the movement of said feed dog foreffecting the energizing and deenergizing of said electromagnetic -ho1ding device for the holding and for the-releaseof the cutstr ih h s i i l media ly i cutting station, cutters mounted;at said-ystation r for cutting said sheets longitudinally into strips, Ian electro -magnetic holding device located adjacent said cutting station for receiving the cut strips as they are discharged fromsaid cutters, said device holding; each; strip -in suspended posit on a o o twin e-plur .ots a feed dogs moving undersaidholding device; and con ,trol means connected-with said strip holding device and operable in time with the movement of said feed dogs for-releasing each'cut strip from said holding device so that it falls immediately in front of and is advanced by ,a said feed dog.

.5. In a -machine for cutting magnetic sheets .into, strips or blanks, the combination of a con- .veyor for feeding individual sheets to a sheet cutting station, cutting means at said station for cutting sheets into strips, a plurality of spaced electro-magnetic holding devices located.

adjacent said cutting 1. station for receivingmloeating and holdingsaid cut strips in predeter- 'mined positions, and control;meansconnected with said strip holding devices andoperableuin time with thefeeding of said sheetsfor releasing the cut strips successively and in timed .order from said holding, devices thereby spacing them for further advancement.

6. In a machine for cutting magnetic sheets into strips or blanks, the combination oft-a conveyor for feeding individual sheets to a sheet cutting station, cutting means at said station for cutting sheets intostrips, a. plurality oftspaced electro-magnetic holding devices located adjacent said cuttingstation, each of said electromagnetic holding devices-disposed at an angle relative to-the plane of a sheet being cut--ior tilting adjacent cut strips upon engagement therewith to separate their adjoining; cut-edges and to hold said strips with their edgesseparated when moving the strips into predetermined positions, and control meansconnected withsaid strip holding devices and operable in time=with the feeding of said sheets for releasing the out strips successively and in timed order from-said holding devices thereby spacing them forfurther advancement.

'7. In a machine-for cutting magnetic sheets into strips or blanks, the combination of aconveyor for feeding individual'sheets-to asheet cutting station, cutting; means at said station-tor cutting sheets intostr-ips, an auxiliary conveyor operable adjacent said sheet cutting station and in time with said conveyorfor transferring cut strips from said station, a plurality of electromagnetic holding devices comprising one holding device for each strip in a sheet, said holding devices being located adjacent said cutting sta tion and over said auxiliary convcyorior locat ing and holding the strips as theyare cut f om a sheet in predetermined suspended posit ons above said auxiliary conveyor, and c ntr lmeans connected with said strip holdingdevices and operable in time. with the travel of said auxiliary conveyor for releasing the out strips in sequence from said holding devices for discharge .intopredetermined spaced positions on said, auxiliary conveyor.

8. A handling device for progressively movable magnetizable sheets, strips and blanks comprising, a pair of spaced ferrous metallic bars, a-plurality of non-magnetic rollers carried in said bars, an electro-magnet secured to said: bars for creating a magnetic field, around said. bars A and said rollers when said electro-magnet is,., en ergized, said .barsattractinga magnetic strip movable into a position on said rollers-,andadjacent said bars for locating and holding thetstrip at rest, and control means-connectedwith said handling device and operable for, deeenergizing said ,electro-magnet for releasing, the. strip fromv said handling device.

. WlLLIAM. W, .MAHER.

References cam in the file lof thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 725,453 Knowlton Apr. 14, 1993 962,191 Bierman et al. Junegl, 1910 1,343,648 Smith s June 1 5, 1920 2,236,193 I-Iazelton a- 25, 1941 2,334,645 Plumb Nov. 16,1943 

